Elementum launches A5083-RAM5 material for LPBF

Elementum 3D officially launched the new A5083-RAM5 aluminum alloy. Developed in part with the support of the US Army, this innovative alloy provides exceptional printability, highly consistent properties, and impressive strength, all without requiring heat treatment. Elementum 3D is one of the most advanced AM material companies and offers a range of aluminum products for PBF.

Traditionally, wrought aluminum alloy 5083 has been known for its high strength and corrosion resistance, making it a top choice for applications in seawater and other harsh environments. However, its composition has historically made it unsuitable for use in fusion-based additive manufacturing processes due to solidification cracking.

Utilizing patented reactive additive manufacturing (RAM) technology, these limitations have been overcome by synthesizing nanoscale reinforcements during the printing process to create a fine equiaxed microstructure with superior properties and printability. As a result, A5083-RAM5 exhibits consistent tensile properties in both horizontal and vertical orientations, as well as in as-printed and stress-relieved states. The RAM additions result in significantly higher strengths than wrought 5083 products, with as-printed A5083-RAM5 demonstrating an impressive 1.8x the yield strength of strain-hardened wrought 5083-H116 and, in the stress-relieved state, delivering a remarkable 2.9x the yield strength of wrought 5083-O.

The release of A5083-RAM5 enables manufacturers to print advanced components from a high-strength aluminum alloy with reduced post-processing time and cost. Moreover, the alloy does not contain any rare elements leading to a robust supply chain. Printed A5083-RAM5 is designed for use in any applications wrought 5083 alloy is traditionally used including pressure vessels, marine components, aerospace components, energy sector applications, as well as applications that benefit from the higher strength and design complexity offered by A5083-RAM and AM processing

RAM alloys give additive manufacturers the opportunity to 3D print better alloys that are suitable for more types of components. RAM aluminum alloy AM powders take advantage of chemical reactions in the melt pool to form dispersion-strengthened metal matrix composite (MMC) aluminum alloys with superior product performance, even in the most challenging environments. The RAM feedstocks are designed for optimal powder flow and stability. Elementum 3D’s aluminum alloy powders come in a range of formulations, sizes, and shapes for use in Laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) additive processes, as well as blown powder directed energy deposition (DED) processes and other leading powder additive manufacturing processes.

Elementum 3D offers a family of proven aluminum alloy feedstocks together with AM processes and printed property data. The company also regularly formulates and tests new innovative aluminum alloy AM powder feedstocks to meet client-specific property targets.